Cantalever



(No Model.)

B. F. DAVIS.

GANTALEVER. v

Patented Jan. 20, 1885.

a U NW WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

TATES UNITE P TENT OFFICE.

CANTA LEVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,064, dated January 20, 1885.

Application filed August 6, 1884.

(N0 model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Gorsicana, in the county of Navarro and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gantalevers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and which represents a side view of my invention.

My invention has relation to trusses for bridges or similar structures constructed on the principle of a so-called cantalever; and it consists in the improved construction and com bination of parts of the same, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, the letter A indicates an upright post or column supported upon a suitable pier or tower, and two beams or struts, B B, project in opposite directions from the base of the post, preferably as shown in the drawing, slightly inclined in an upward direction, although the beams may project horizontally from the base of the post. Rods, bars, or cables 0 extend from the top of the post to the ends of the beams supporting the outer ends of the same, and a number of rods, bars, or cables, 6, project from the top of the post to different points along the beam, preventing any sagging of the same. The outermost of theselatter rods, bars, or cables, E, passes through the beam and is secured to the end of the same, and a brace, a," extending from the strut nearest to the shore end of the same, serves to take up the slack in the said extended end of the rod, bar. or cable, and to cause the weight upon that beam or strut to exert an upward pressure upon the outer end of the beam or strut. Supplemental braces e extend from near the inner ends of the beams to the central post, being secured to the same below its end, and preferably near or at its middle. Rods, bars, or cablesf extend from near or at the middle of the post to the ends of the beams, when the latter are inclined, and an oblique brace, g, extends from the outer rod, bar, or cable at the long or shore end of the structure to the beam or strut, serving tofurthermore divide the strain upon the beam or strut, the shore or longer arm of the structure serving as a counterpoise for the weight falling upon the outer end of the structure, and when the struts or beams are in their inclined position, which position is shown in the drawing, and which position is the most preferable, the stringers j of the bridge, upon which the cross-pieces or and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the.

United States- In a truss or cantalever device for bridges or similar structures, the combination of the central post or column supported upon a pier or tower, the npwardly-inclined struts or beams bearing with their inner ends against the base of the post or column, the rods or cables extending from the top of the post to the ends of the struts, the rods or cables extending from the middle of the post to near the inner ends of the struts, the rods or cables ex tending from the ends of the struts to the middle of the post, the inclined or oblique brace connecting the outermost of the rods or cables with the strut ot' the shore end of the structure, the longer rod or cable extending from the top of the post through the strut at the .shore end near the end of the same, and at tached to the end of the same, the brace filling or taking up the slack in the said rod or (311316 and bearing against the under side of the strut, the pending rods or cables, and the stringers and sleepers of the bridge or structure supported by the said pending rods or cahles. as and for the purpose shown and set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. DAVIS.

\Vitnesses:

B. '1. PALMER, J. F. CAI-IILL. 

